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Even if you are only remotely interested in plants, visiting one or more of the Hawaii botanical gardens is bound to be rewarding. Not all of the Hawaiian gardens are botanical gardens, however, and gardens of all kinds are plentiful in the Aloha State. While there are volcanic and arid areas in Hawaii, much of the terrain is lush and prone to healthy vegetation, providing visitors with numerous opportunities to study the local flora. For those who may not know, a botanical garden is essentially a garden that showcases a variety of plants that are categorized and studied for scientific purposes.

Oahu Gardens

Oahu is home to some of the more recognizable Hawaiian gardens, as it is here that you will find the Honolulu Botanical Gardens. The five different gardens that are included in the Honolulu Botanical Gardens collection include the Foster Botanical Garden, which is the most notable, and the Liliuokalani Botanical Garden. You can find the Foster Botanical Garden in downtown Honolulu, and it is an excellent place to take a break from the bustle of the city. Heading up to Kaneohe on the windward coast, you will find the Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden, which is one of the other excellent Hawaii botanical gardens that you will do well to visit. It offers 400 lush acres of land to explore and plants that hail from the planet's major tropical regions.

Back down towards Honolulu, the Liliuokalani Botanical Garden highlights plants that are native to the state. This garden is just north of the Foster Botanical Garden, making visits to both easy for those who are staying at one of the Honolulu hotels. The remaining Hawaii botanical gardens that can be found on the island of Oahu include the Wahiawa Botanical Garden, which can be found in central Oahu, and the partially developed Koko Crater Botanical Garden, which can be found on the eastern end of the island.

Big Island Gardens

The Big Island is a good place to look for Hawaiian gardens, as it's home to quite a few. Among the more notable Big Island gardens is the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, which can be found in a scenic valley near Onomea Bay. Hilo visitors will appreciate the fact that the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is less than ten miles from town. A self-guided tour here will only take about an hour and a half, so it should fit nicely on your itinerary.

For those who are hanging out in Kona, the Sadie Seymour Botanical Gardens are among the gardens in Hawaii that will be within easy reach. While only spanning 1.5 acres, the Sadie Seymour Botanical Gardens deserves a visit, especially since its free. The plants here represent plants that are cultivated in Hawaii, and you'll also find a horticultural library on the property. Other Hawaiian gardens that Big Island visitors might look to add to the itinerary include the World Botanical Gardens, which can be found north of Hilo, and the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, which is just twelve miles south of Kona. Don't forget about the Queen Liliuokalani Gardens, which is an authentic Japanese garden that can be found back in Hilo.

Kauai Gardens

Kauai is an island that is fit for the adventurous, and it's also a great place to go if you are interested in visiting botanical gardens in Hawaii. Some of the best Kauai gardens are part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, which is an organization that specializes in studying, maintaining, and even discovering the planet's tropical plants. Of the five National Tropical Gardens, three can be found on the island of Kauai. When it comes to the other two, one can be found on the island of Oahu, while the other can be found resting on the shores of Biscayne Bay in Florida. The Kauai gardens include the McBryde Garden, the Allerton Garden, and the Limahuli Garden and Preserve. The first two can be found on the south side of the island, while the latter is located on the north shore.

Maui Gardens

For those who are looking for gardens in Hawaii, Maui boasts more than a dozen that you could easily spend an hour or more enjoying. The Kahanu Garden, which can be found near Hana, is the Maui garden that is part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens. It covers 464 acres and is home to the Piilanihale Temple, which is a National Historic Landmark. When it comes to the Hawaii botanical gardens in Maui, the Tropical Gardens of Maui are among the ones that you might include on the itinerary. This small garden can be found in Wailuku, which is where you will also find Maui Tropical Plantation, which grows and displays some of Hawaii's most notable agricultural products. These products include bananas, pineapples, coffee, and sugar. The Maui Tropical Plantation offers some of the most diverse gardens in Hawaii, and it's an excellent place to learn about some of the state's most significant food exports.